Greatest actor of the twentieth century

[jdb67]

Acting styles have obviously changed over the Decades but two of my Favorites that havent been mentioned are...

Sir David Niven and Sir Richard Burton.

Another two worth mentioning are...

Richard Harris and and another English hellraiser who's name escapes me.... Something Oliver or Oliver something... I cant remember.

 

[Chrism86354]

some of my favorite actors of the twentieth century are denzel washington, al pacino, morgan freeman, gene hackman, as for the greatest actor of the twentieth century, it's too tough of a choice for me, personally modern day favorites of mine are denzel washington, kiefer sutherland, colin farrell and matt damon.

 

[mythex]

I only know who tom hanks is..

 

[E-Ann-Hilden]

All great actors, one I forgot to mention is Jack Lemmon. Most known as a comedy actor but a great actor all the same.

My favourites (not the best)

1. James Stewart
2. Jack Nicholson
3. Robert Deniro
4. Gene Hackman
5. Marlon Brando
6. Jack Lemmon
7. Samuel L Jackson
8. Clint Eastwood
9. Martin Sheen
10. Robert Duvall
11. Christopher Walken
12. Tom Cruise
13. Dustin Hoffman
14. Joe Pesci
15. Morgan Freeman
16. Paul Newman
17. Tom Hanks
18. Bill Murray
19. James Gondalfini (Sopranos)
20. Ray Winstone

Great banter! :glugglug: i was going to throw Martin Sheen, Tom Cruise and James Gondalfini out of your list. Bill Murray has been great recently. Jack Lemmon :dunno:

 

[E-Ann-Hilden]

I only know who tom hanks is..

You can find info on most of these great actors at http://www.imdb.com/

 

[mythex]

^ yeah..true...
I also watch Morgan Freeman movie..especially Shawhank Redemption..I watch that movie,many,many times....:thumbsup:

 

[om3ga]

Off the top of my head and in no order:

Marlon Brando
Laurence Olivier (loved his Henry V)
Spencer Tracy
Humprey Bogart
Jack Nicholson
Al Pacino
Richard Burton
Albert Finney
Morgan Freeman
Robert DeNiro
Samuel L Jackson
Kevin Spacey
Christopher Walken
Peter O'Toole
James Mason
Gene Hackman
Steve McQueen
Clint Eastwood
Paul Newman
Henry Fonda
Lee Marvin
Ian McKellen
Harvey Keitel

I also agree with julian999 - foreign actors such as Alain Delon, Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Maurice Chevalier and even Chow Yun Fat (imo) deserves mention in this field.

 

[Ax3C]

Off the top of my head and in no order:

Marlon Brando
Laurence Olivier (loved his Henry V)
Spencer Tracy
Humprey Bogart
Jack Nicholson
Al Pacino
Richard Burton
Albert Finney
Morgan Freeman
Robert DeNiro
Samuel L Jackson
Kevin Spacey
Christopher Walken
Peter O'Toole
James Mason
Gene Hackman
Steve McQueen
Clint Eastwood
Paul Newman
Henry Fonda
Lee Marvin
Ian McKellen
Harvey Keitel

You nailed it right there ... :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :hatsoff:

 

[om3ga]

You nailed it right there ... :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :hatsoff:

Aw shucks, I'm blushing now (LOL!).....

Seriously though we should also acknowledge the great actresses too:

Lauren Bacall
Marlene Dietrich
Greta Garbo
Judy Garland
Rita Hayworth
Madeline Kahn
Deborah Kerr
Angela Lansbury (I can forgive her for "Murder She Wrote" after watching the (original) Manchurian Candidate)
Barbara Stanwyck
Liv Ullmann
Judi Dench
Lillian Gish
Bette Davis
Agnes Moorehead
Mia Farrow
Catherine Deneuve
Katharine Hepburn
Dorothy Dandridge

Also worthy of mention (imo): Halle Berry (although Catwoman & Gothika does raise some serious doubts) Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Juliette Binoche, Emmanuelle Beart, Anne Parillaud (the original & superior Nikita), Aishwarya Rai & Michelle Yeoh.........

 

[Feelie]

Acting styles have obviously changed over the Decades but two of my Favorites that havent been mentioned are...

Sir David Niven and Sir Richard Burton.

Another two worth mentioning are...

Richard Harris and and another English hellraiser who's name escapes me.... Something Oliver or Oliver something... I cant remember.

Oliver Reed? Was in Gladiator as the trainer.

 

[Feelie]

I've always regarded Clint Eastwood as my favourite actor..
but that is more to do with his on screen image than acting ability.
I guess if it is just about an actor's 'ability', I would probably go for Jack Nicholson.

Honourable mention to Gene Hackman.

Good choices.

My favourite Eastwood film is Unforgiven. Some great one liners in that.

As I've said previously I love Nicholson - Shining, A few Good men & of course One Flew over the Cuckoo's nest.

Gene Hackman may not be the best actor ever but I can never remember him delivering a bad performance which is a great trait, not many actors including - Deniro, Pacino can say that.

 

[jdb67]

Oliver Reed? Was in Gladiator as the trainer.

Thats him!!!! :thumbsup:

 

[RogueWolf]

This is one of those 'nearly-impossible-questions-to-answer-with-just-one-name'.

For current actors, I would have to say Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise.

Gene Hackman is definitely worth mentioning.

From prior eras...wow...too many to even try to name. Off the top of my head...
Gregory Peck
Jimmy Stewart
Cary Grant
Ray Walston

 

[Jagger69]

Steve Mcqueen and Charlie Chaplin are kinda iffy picks though lol

I guess you didn't see Papillon then, huh?

 

[Digital]

I guess you didn't see Papillon then, huh?

Or any Chaplin films.

 

[McRocket]

Me.

Prove me wrong.

Have a nice day.

 

[Incentive]

Al Pacino and Denzel Washington tie for me, all the movies they have made have been great

 

[Feelie]

Al Pacino and Denzel Washington tie for me, all the movies they have made have been great

Any brits got opinions on the best British actors.

Anthony Hopkins, Alec Guiness, Michael Caine, 2 that have always impressed me - Michael Gambon and Patrick Stewart.

 

[om3ga]

Any brits got opinions on the best British actors.

Anthony Hopkins, Alec Guiness, Michael Caine, 2 that have always impressed me - Michael Gambon and Patrick Stewart.

See following quote:

Off the top of my head and in no order:

Marlon Brando
Laurence Olivier (loved his Henry V)
Spencer Tracy
Humprey Bogart
Jack Nicholson
Al Pacino
Richard Burton
Albert Finney
Morgan Freeman
Robert DeNiro
Samuel L Jackson
Kevin Spacey
Christopher Walken
Peter O'Toole
James Mason
Gene Hackman
Steve McQueen
Clint Eastwood
Paul Newman
Henry Fonda
Lee Marvin
Ian McKellen
Harvey Keitel

I also agree with julian999 - foreign actors such as Alain Delon, Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Maurice Chevalier and even Chow Yun Fat (imo) deserves mention in this field.

 

[jumbo_jim]

I'd go Denzel Washington or Sam Jackson as the greatest.